Abstract

Sources and Documents for Michelangelo Buonarroti, No. 3. Alongside the Lives of Michelangelo by Giorgio Vasari (1550, 1568) and by Ascanio Condivi (1553), the ‚Orazione funerale’ (1564) of Benedetto Varchi represents the third contemporary ‘Vita’ of the artist. Compared to the Lives by Vasari and Condivi, the ‘Vita’ by Varchi is distinguished by its straightforward and clear structure and style. At the same time the text belongs to a group of writings which were published at the time of Michelangelo’s death and which celebrate him as a divine artist.